by Manuelita Beck
Daily Lobo
It was pretty easy for guests to catch a bouquet at the wedding reception held for the 64 same-sex couples married in Sandoval County.
The Coalition for Equality in New Mexico used the event in the SUB ballroom as an opening for its Protect Our Families campaign, a series of events designed to promote same-sex marriage rights in New Mexico.
"For not only must we win the right to marry in the courts of New Mexico, we'd like to win the hearts of those New Mexicans," said Jonathan Kennedy, a Coalition for Equality in New Mexico board member.
Dair Obenshain, who married her partner Mary Ramos on Feb. 20, said events such as the reception bring more attention to the issue of same-sex marriage. She says educating people is key.
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"I have complete faith in Americans in general - that we are a fair-minded people," she said. "Once people understand the issues, I'm not worried."
The reception was held in honor of the 64 same-sex couples issued marriage licenses on Feb. 20. It included traditional wedding activities, such as dancing, cake cutting and a toast. The couples also participated in a mass bouquet toss and were serenaded by the New Mexico Women's Chorus and the New Mexico Gay Men's Chorus.
Sandoval County issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples for one day in February, but stopped after an advisory opinion from the New Mexico state attorney general deemed the licenses illegal.
Norma Vasquez told the crowd at the reception about her wedding day. She and Mary Houdek were the first same-sex couple to receive a New Mexico marriage license.
"Holding a marriage license instantly made us equal in ways that we did not experience as a couple in 17 years," Vasquez said. "It was a moment of disbelief. It was a historic memory in our relationship."
Others in attendance reiterated the theme of equality.
"We're just asking for the same protections for our families that other people can take for granted," Obenshain said.
Randy Elliot agreed, saying he wants assurance his partner can be at his deathbed if he is terminally ill.
"Ultimately this is about love and commitment, and having the right to make our own decisions about our family," Michael Coburn said.
He and Elliot were one of the couples married in February.
"It's about lifting up our families," Elliot said. "I would want that for all families, regardless of the make-up of the families. All families need to be uplifted, supported and protected."
The Protect Our Families campaign is sponsored by the Coalition for Equality in New Mexico, Lambda Legal, Basic Rights New Mexico, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Gill Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union New Mexico. The wedding reception was also sponsored by UNM's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Alliance.
